Plastidial metabolites and retrograde signaling: A case study of MEP pathway intermediate MEcPP that orchestrates plant growth and stress responses.

Plants are frequently exposed to environmental stresses. In a plant cell, chloroplast acts as machinery that rapidly senses changing environmental conditions and coordinates with the nucleus and other subcellular organelles by exchanging plastidial metabolites, proteins/peptides, or lipid derivatives, some of which may act as retrograde signals. These specific plastidial metabolites include carotenoid derivatives, isoprenes, phosphoadenosines, tetrapyrroles, phytohormone (like salicylic acid), and reactive electrophile species (RES), which mediate retrograde communications to sustain stress conditions.

Unraveling salinity stress tolerance: Contrasting morpho-physiological, biochemical, and ionic responses in diverse brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes.

Salinity stress poses a significant threat to crop production due to rapid soil salinization as a consequence of climate change. Brinjal, a vital and resilient vegetable crop with extensive genetic variation, exhibits a diverse range of salt tolerance responses. Salt-tolerant and susceptible brinjal genotypes were assessed for their differential tolerance mechanisms under 8 dS m salinity.

Exploring alternative approaches: A case report on palmoplantar keratoderma treated with unani medicine.

Introduction: Palmoplantar Keratoderma (PPK) is a heterogeneous group of hereditary and acquired cornification disorders defined by hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, often resulting in significant discomfort and reduced quality of life. The clinical features include well defined yellowish hyperkeratotic plaques on palm and soles. Treatment typically relies on topical keratolytic agents, including salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea and in more severe cases, systemic therapy with oral retinoids may be required.

Sustainable gelatin extraction from poultry skin-head-feet blend: An ultrasound-assisted approach.

The study investigated gelatin extraction from chicken skin-head-feet (SHF) blend using conventional and ultrasound-assisted methods with food-grade acetic and citric acids. Ultrasound pretreatment was introduced as an intervention in the extraction process, eliminating the need for alkali hydrolysis and significantly reducing the processing time. The gelatin yield, gel clarity, textural parameters, and functional properties were noticeably improved with ultrasound pretreatment.

The hidden messengers: Tumor microenvironment-derived exosomal ceRNAs in gastric cancer progression.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the development and progression of gastric cancer (GC). The TME comprises a network of cancer cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix components, which provide a supportive niche for cancer cells. This study investigates the role of TME-derived exosomal competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), particularly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), as major regulating agents in GC development.

The emerging role of kinesin superfamily proteins in Wnt/β-catenin signaling: Implications for cancer.

Cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis are significantly influenced by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in the development of various types of cancer. This study focuses on the emerging role of kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) in modulating cancer signaling.

Enhancing Kodo millet starch-based hybrid gel for fat replacement in cookies: Dual modification (heat treatment-octenyl succinic anhydride) for improved properties.

In this study, Kodo millet starch was modified using dry heat treatment and heat-moisture treatment, followed by esterification with 3 % octenyl succinic anhydride to enhance its functional and structural properties for hybrid gel formulation and application as a fat replacer in cookies. Heat treatment before esterification significantly increased the degree of substitution (0.0068 to 0.

Gold nanoparticles-based targeted delivery of rapamycin and Olaparib to breast cancer: An in vitro and in vivo approach.

Triple negative form of breast cancer (abbreviated as TNBC) is considered as the most aggressive form causing high mortality worldwide. Different treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy are employed for eliminating breast cancer, which are associated with many limitations. Therefore, considering the significance of metal nanoparticles in the biomedical sector, especially gold nanoparticles, in the current manuscript, we have designed and developed a combinatorial approach for synthesizing two types of gold (Au) nanoformulations (Au-Dex-MUA-Rapa, Au-Dex-MUA-Ola) using 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA), dexamethasone (Dex) (glucocorticoid receptor targeted molecule) along with rapamycin (Rapa: inhibitor of mTOR) or olaparib (Ola: inhibitor of PARP) against TNBC.

Safety and tolerability of vortioxetine versus serotonin reuptake inhibitors in late life depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Late-life depression (LLD) is a significant yet often under-recognized health concern. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used, their adverse effects remain a challenge. Vortioxetine, a multimodal antidepressant, has gained attention for its potentially better tolerability.

Improving the hydrophobic nature of biopolymer based edible packaging film: A review.

Biopolymer-based polymer compounds mainly protein and polysaccharide are commonly used in biodegradable packaging. Gelatin, cellulose, starch, chitosan, pectin, and alginate are widely used for producing biodegradable packaging films because of their nontoxicity and safety. However, some drawbacks need to be solved before employing them in food packaging, such as inappropriate wettability, low barrier properties, low mechanical properties and high moisture sensitivity.

Evidence of novel reassortment in clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza H5N1 viruses, India, 2024.

H5N1 viruses belonging to clade 2.3.4.

The coevolutionary landscape of drug resistance in epidermal growth factor receptor: A cancer perspective.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the first receptor tyrosine kinase, plays a critical role in neoplastic metastasis, angiogenesis, tumor invasion, and apoptosis, making it a prime target for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown high efficacy and promise for cancer patients, resistance to these drugs often develops within a year due to alterations. The present study investigates the compensatory alterations in EGFR to understand the evolutionary process behind drug resistance.

Degradative removal of diclofenac from wastewater - Statistical and analytical approaches to understand degradation pathways.

In environmental management area, quality of water is a major growing concern with the emerging contaminants such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals likely to be present at low concentrations in water bodies, thereby potentially harming the ecosystem and human health. Diclofenac (DCF), a commonly used drug, has been found in wastewater, surface water, and drinking water sources, whose elimination can be a challenge issue. This study investigates the elimination of DCF by the photochemical method from aqueous media using short-wavelength radiation and hydrogen peroxide.

Unveiling Greenwashing: Analyzing the interaction of factors discouraging ESG Greenwashing through TISM and MICMAC.

Corporations, as major contributors to carbon emissions, face mounting pressure to adopt genuine sustainability practices. However, the rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures has concurrently given rise to greenwashing-misleading claims that erode stakeholder trust and obstruct sustainability progress. Despite the widespread acknowledgment of greenwashing, there is a notable gap in research identifying the key factors that can mitigate it.

Do Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices help mitigate bank default risk?

The study aims to investigate the ESG practices and bank default risk nexus in India, considering both short-term and long-term perspectives. Employing panel data covering 27 Indian banks spanning from 2012-13 to 2021-2022, the research utilizes the two-step 'system GMM' approach to examine the nexus above. A bank's ESG practices are found to be associated negatively with its default risk.

Targeted drug delivery to the deviated regions of the human nasal cavities: An in silico investigation and in vitro validation.

Background And Objective: Delivering drugs to the deviated regions in patients with nasal septal deviation is vital for the treatment but challenging due to the complex shape of the nasal cavity and the intersubject variability in the nasal anatomies. While previous studies have focused on drug delivery to standard areas like the olfactory region, none have specifically looked at how drugs are deposited in the deviated regions. The current study numerically investigates six drug administration parameters aiming to control and maximize drug deposition in the deviated regions of the nasal cavity in three types of septal deviations.

Modeling Charge Collection in Silicon Pixel Detectors for Proton Therapy Applications.

Monolithic active pixel sensors are used for charged particle tracking in many applications, from medical physics to astrophysics. The Bergen pCT collaboration designed a sampling calorimeter for proton computed tomography, based entirely on the ALICE PIxel DEtector (ALPIDE). The same telescope can be used for in-situ range verification in particle therapy.

South Asian Immigration to the US: From Collective Farms to High-Tech Cities Through H-1B Visas.

With origins in the conscripted labor system of nineteenth century European colonies, the South Asian diaspora began in the early twentieth. Migrants faced racial hostility, their foreignness identifiable by skin color, physiognomy, languages unintelligible to Anglophone ears, and customs and religions that confirmed them as heathens in a Christian country. More threatening was their capacity for hard work at substandard wages.

Worldwide Innovative Network (WIN) Consortium in Personalized Cancer Medicine: Bringing next-generation precision oncology to patients.

The human genome project ushered in a genomic medicine era that was largely unimaginable three decades ago. Discoveries of druggable cancer drivers enabled biomarker-driven gene- and immune-targeted therapy and transformed cancer treatment. Minimizing treatment not expected to benefit, and toxicity-including financial and time-are important goals of modern oncology.

Chemo-Selective Transformation of Anthracene Derivative within Water-Soluble Coordination Cages Having Different Cavities.

Coordination cages with specific properties and functionalities are utilized as reaction vessels for the desired chemical transformation of substrates. The symmetry and inherent cavity of coordination cages can influence the host-guest interactions and the reaction outcome in their confined space. However, the impact of the cage shape on different transformations remains unclear.

Incidence of Scrub Typhus in Rural South India.

Background: Hospital studies suggest that scrub typhus is a leading cause of severe undifferentiated fever in regions across Asia where the disease is endemic, but the population-based incidence of infection and illness has been little studied.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study to assess epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of scrub typhus in 37 villages in Tamil Nadu, India, where the disease is highly endemic. Study participants were visited every 6 to 8 weeks over a period of 2 years; a venous blood sample was obtained from those who had had fever since the last visit.

Complete Valorization of Cashew Nutshell Waste Enriched with Sulfur Copolymer for Efficient Mercury Removal.

Integrating sustainable raw materials with efficient synthesis is key to advancing eco-friendly solutions. Renewable feedstocks like cashew nutshells (CNS) and elemental sulfur, an industrial byproduct, are underutilized resources. This study presents a simple method to valorize CNS and sulfur, creating a copolymer composite designed for efficient mercury removal from contaminated water.

Food waste minimisation and energy efficiency for carbon emission reduction.

This research determines the potential impact of reducing food waste on future energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The study uses system dynamics modelling to simulate the complex link between population, food demand, food waste output and their interactions with energy consumption in the food system and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions. Scenarios are developed by considering two elements: a reduction in food waste and an increase in energy output.